Washboard.



1,283, 148. Paw-m1 out. zu, um.

AJ A Ufff H. l` GHHERT.

WASHBAHU.

wmmluw um) mm. un zum 1,283,148. lnmlmrd (ict. LS), MILS,

3 sHEE|s-sHEU UNITED STATES HENRY J. GILBERT, OF SAGINAW, MICHI COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

GAN, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL WASHBOARD A CORPORATION OW VEST VIRGINIA.

WASHBOARD.

Speicaton of Letters Patent.

Patomod Oct. 29, 1918.

Application ined January 1s, 191e, serial N0. 72,730`

7'0 all wlmi/i t may Cannero.'

Be it known that I, HENRY J. (hmmm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Saginaw, in the county of Saginaw and State of Michigan, have invented certain Anew and useful Improvements in W'uslu boards, of which the folliiwinp; is u descriptiou, rei'orcneey heilig had to the aacornpanying,r dra wings, :forming a parli of' this .specifi cation.

My invention has For ite objoot tho provision of u novel and improved aoapiuet or .support for waslihoards, oi" aimplo' and rheap lull advantagi-ou,` eonatruction, and thoeoinA bination of `anh zoap-rest with the frinie and rubbing4 Surfin-r oi' the Hellboard in a simple and olicivnt manner, all as hereiuailter forth and more particularly pointed out` in the rvlaiins. i

In tl aerornpanying drawings Figure l in a. perapeiftive view of the forward side qf tluivashhoard embodying my invention; Fig. 2 the nani@ waahhoari'i, provided with a Support for thu rubbing surface in the form of a thin wooden hack; Fig. 3 a View corre sponding' to Fig: 2 but showing the support i'or the rubbing :anlznfr in the forni of truss;Y rods; Fig. --il a rrrtiral section of the washlonril on the flotrfl lim -i---i Oil: liligs. l and 2: Fig. u rorroponding viuw of the construfi ion shown in Fig. 3; Fig 6,3 and T en lai-ged details, ravpeelively, oiE the ronfrair tion it tho` iop and bottoni crow-haie oi' the wasldioard aliown in Figs. i. 2 and 4; Figs. S and J enlarged details, refspectively. of. the construotion :it the iop and bottoni (Tous.4 'liars of thi` washboard Shown in Figs. and 5; Fig. l() a perspective view of the soaprost eliown in Fig. l and in section in Figs. Al and (3,' Fig. 11 a perspective view of a similar Soap-rest of Slightly modified form; Fig. Q2 a pvrpifeiii-fu View of4 a Jenni@ lar :wap-rom` in Still another sliglitilv modified forni; Fig. i3 a similar viow of another modified forni ol soap-reet; Fig. l1 a Groes- Soetional ,lotnil of a douhie wmp-reet adapt od for use in iioulile-eidod Washhoardsi; Fig, '12 a sinnizr of a double f oiii` -1-est.y foi' the same piu-pmx of slightly different form; Fig. 1:2b a front View of one of the notches of the form hmm in Fig, 152, and Fig. 12"

a from view of a wider notch of similarl form.

The `Vuna Wnere oitierenee are ema similar view of 4the rear side of pioyed io indicatiA they several views.

The rectangular frame oi' the washhourd, composed of the Side-hara A and B, and the. top crous-bar C and bottom cross-bar D, may he of the usual or any Sui-table construction. The intermediate exons-bar E, which consti tutes the support and connecting medium for the bottoni of the brand-lioaid F and the top of the ineliil rubbing surface G and it@i supporting back H` and whose forwardl)r projecting portion E eonatitnteg the soap roal lfor supporting the Calin ot' soap when not in use,

is of novel :ind improved ronstruetion. It i5 neutri! at ite opposite @nds in suitablyr sliapod reves in the aidedifai'a A and B of the waahlioard i'raino` and in the Construction shown i@ prmided in itLy upper `@ide with a longitudinal groove u, in which fits the lower edge of tho l rand-board F, as best shown in Figs. 4, (i, and l0 to 13, and in its lower side with a imigitudinal groove in which fitS the upper' edge of tho supporting bank H for the rubbing surface (i. The` under Side of this; Proef-bar E is prefn orablj' Shaped as shown, the bottoni portion of tho har` in front oi" what would otherwise be the lower hall or 'portion of the deep groove boing mit away hout midway of the height of Surh groove, to forni a down wardlv7 facing l'i:ni.2i'iiit:il nurfaro or shoul4 der ff, The upper @diro ot' the .-iiipportiug hark H in provided with a loep groovo al extending lranvvfasfrly irma Side toiside oi' the wualiliourih and this groove, divideS the upper edge of the hurl; if into two vertically projecting portions, lh@y rear one of which eoustitutos a tenoa a, which ,fits into the groove 7) in the` erofrrbfir E. and tho forwurd one of which institutes u support f for the upper end of" the nietai 'rubbing surface G'. The upper portion of the metal rubbin snri'aea is nent rearivai'div and thon (ownwardly. forming, a iiook-sl1apfd portion, whit-,li hooks over the upper edge. 0f the support f, and. is; clamped and confined lot tween the upper edgoitl'lereof and the under surface e of they forward portion of the eross-bar E, thus forming a'secu're fastenin for the upper und of the rubbing surface r. The rear side of the moss-bar E, at the right of the groove i5, in the preisent instance. and

lloro:fier-9.111);. extnds downwardly and fits againttho rear side` of the back for a considerable distance bidon' the horizontal plane of the upper end of the rubbing surface (i and its support f, and the upper and lower coi-ners of the back of the bai' 1*) are also prcferablv rounded ofi' or curved as shown.

The connection ol the bottoni oi the back ll with the lower cross-har l) of the washboai'd traine iii the construction shown i `siniilar to that ot' the connection oi! its upper end with the cross-har l. the bach ll heilig provided in its lower edge with a groove d', Fig. T. siniilar to the groove l in its upper edge. forming a tenori e fitting' in a groove b in the cross-bar D, and a shorter portion 7" in front of the groove fl', around the lower edge of which portion f the lower end of the rubbing,T surface G is hooked. and between which and the upper .surface c of the forward part of the crosshar l) it is confined, as shown. 4

The side edges of the brand-board F prefv ifi-ably tit. in vertical grooves formed in the inner sides of the side bars` A and 1" of the w-.ishhoard traine, whih` its upper edge tits` in a horizontal groove in the under side ot the top cross-bar C of the traine. '.l`hr lnan l-lioard l is thus .surrounded hv and snugly inelosetl within the side bars A and B and the top crossdiar (l and intermediate cross-bar E, and constitutes, when the waslihoard is in the inclined position usually occupied bv it when in use, the bottom of a eoinplcte y inelosed rectangular soap-receptacle, 0f which the side harsA and B coin stitutc the side walls, and the top erossbar (l and intermedi-.ite crosslbai' lil the top and bottoni walls. respectively.

As heretofore stated, the forwardly pro jectin; r portion E ot' the Cross-bar E ii front. of the brand-hoard F constitutes the .soap-rest oi' the washboard for which pur pose it` preferably has a flat and substan tialliv horizontal upper surface i and a downwardly and rearwardly inclined l'oi ward .surface L the surfaces ii and b Joining each other at an acute angle at the upper forward corner c of the soaprest and the downwardly and rearwardl, inclined sur face o terminating at its ower edge ap proxiinately coincident Witii the upper end of the front face of the rubbing surface G, and in about the same vertical plane.

For the purpose of affording ready escape of Water from the soap-receptacle above the soap-rest E forwar ly over the front of the rubbing surface G of the board I provide the soa -rest E with a plurality of drainage note es or openings forming downwardly and forwardly inclined drain assages from the face of the brand-board E throu h the soa rest E', to and over the the rub ing surface G. These preferably best front o drainage notches or openings take the form of theI o en notches shown in Figs. 1, l0 and ljwlhere it will be hing surface@ seen that each notch E2 is so cut or formed in the soapd'est, E as to provide a fiat inclined rear wall a, and opposite parallel side walls L projecting forward troni the 'ear wall u?, at` righty anglesl thereto. To einovc the sharptcorners or points which .vould otherwise he forint-d. at the t'orward vxtreinities oi' the. side wallsy i12 of the notches E2 the forward corner otI the soaprcst 1C is beveled ott' at its points of junction with the side walls ol' the notches. as at f2.

The notches E2 are preferably inadc of such width, say halt' an inch or slightly inorc, as to readily perniit the upward passage of one"s finger through thein. which s also facilitated by the lieveling; olf 4of the forncrs of the notches at the points r2. This enables the cake ot soap resting upon the upper surface` of the soap-rest E' over any one of the not ches E2 lo be readily lifted by passingvr the finger upward through tin` notch and engaging: it` with the underside, of the soap. rlhe lieveling oll' ol' the corners` of the not-flies` also prevents thtI clothes which are being washed from ratehinp; upon and being' injured h v lheni.

l Drtfei'ahl en'il'ilov at lea t tour of the drainage` notches' ll in the. soap-red l. as'. liown in Figs 1 and 10 both to facilitate the drainage ol' water from the bi'andboard `surface above the soapaest and also to enV able the cake of soap to hc the niore readil)v engaged by the finger of the user of the washhoard, passed up through one of the notches E2, wherever the cake of soap mayY happen to be left transvcrselir on the soaprest: but the advantages of this feature of niv invention may he utilized, to a greater or less degree. with a less nuinher of such notches, as for instance with two, as shown in Fig. 11.

Again. while drainage notches of appioxiinately the forni shown in Fiets. 1` 1() and 11 possess advantages over tiosefot other furnis which I have employed, the advantages of in v invention may be utilized to some degree with drainage notches of other forms such as those shown at E in Fig. 12 for instance, or even with inclined drainage holes `attending diagonally( down ivard and'forward through the soa`p-`rest E', as shown at E* in Fig. 13. The number of notches shown in Fig. 1.2 and the number of holes shown in Fig. 13 may be increased with advantage as in the case ofthe notches shown in Figs 10 and 11. 1n Fig. 12" I have shown a front View of one of the notches of the form illustrated in Fig. 12, to better exhibit the shape of such notch, and in Fig. `12c I have shown a.l wider forni of a similar notch, which is in some res eets preferable to that shown 'in Figs 12 an 12.

"11i the foregoing description l have referred to the supporting hack H for the rubas a single element or inem- Utl lltl

with vertical. slots bei of the gemaal construction nf ille waShvimm-il Sladiwn in Figs, '1. 2, 4. (i :md T. but as shown in Fig. Sai l`siipp0xtir1g lun-li in practice is lfoinninl 0f n l'ilninlity 0l' vertimilly dispvm membvrrs fa., liivfemllllv vonv susi-mg 0;? hin wooden boziiels il uan-lll. which meinlms :ma also prvffi'alily slightly ssupzfiratedfroni wich other :it thiii' zicljanl. aigus, to leave open spaces h" between rhein. :md further provided in their lower portions k2, the provision of nach fm? thv npen spaces il and sluts Il? lining purposes of' vonliilntiion.

ieliil lilium-il. thv MCtionnl viow heilig reiken iuwngh n pair of thu opposing flmin- :ige n i n l'l". :nml in Fig. .12 I hnvo shown :L Siniilfza' uifnbnsectiunnl ilvlnil cf nnrrtilni Lfliglal i lli`-\.in{' forni 0f i'rmsAluu 'For Such llmlilwwhleil lunaiels provided with lilu- 0p*- pniwiy ilifapuscil snap-rests and drainage nomini l'lm m0554131' shown in Fig. 1.1R i adapta-il for use in what are commonly lmnn-l snliil zinc" wnshlmuiils. mmning lwiehy mishholnd li-,iving opposing r|1hhing' Fnilza un l'm'inerl un thu opposifc siilns nl? ninggln heavy Sheet of zinc Ur Uthmnn-nl. lhef nppm @d'0y 0f which hunvy sheet n!" invlinl in ill lit mu lw confined in the narmw mm: fr' in ihm nmlei silla 'of the aman lun mmm an Fig. l1", and thu lower @nil of auch sing-len :ihul (rf zinc boing curved ii'fiiiif funi llulil hy thv metal cmssiml' c0n- :invia nu;

lum. Vfl

hiwm inmnllw' 0f the frana@ of I Tl one side of said grooves and rerticallr extending Supports` f and f" at the opposite .eide thereof` said tenore` e and c fitting in the longitudinal gromt! 7; iu the under sido of the cross-bar E und in the `uiniilar groin e li of the CroSS-har D` reepeftirely, and the sheet metal rubbing surface (l liming its; upper end hooked over and confined lietn'eei. the Support and the Surface w on the unclm Sido of the erom-bar E, and haring)lr ite lower end hooked under and Confined between thiy support f and the surface c on the upper Side ofthe cross-bar D ;v suhelantially au described.

In a washlgioard. the ronlliinatioin witl the side hara A. and B, and top cross-liar ll of the intermediate Cross-liar E formed upon one side with the forwardly irojeeting soaprest, E' havinrr a plurality of downwardly and forwardly int-.lined drainage passages, and the brawl-board F, formingr with the side liars and VIl and cross hars C and E a closed-bottom soap-receptacle above the soap-rest, E. the drainage from which flows1 downwardly and forwardl)r lhrough the inelined paseages in the soap-rest, and over the rubbing surface of the hoard; subetantially as described.

3. In a wadiboarl tlv "'oluruuation,y with the side bars A and l). anti top cross-bar C, of the intermediaire erossliar E formed upon one Yside 'ith the forward] y projecting Soap-rmt 'Li' Hiring a plurality of down? wai-dij, and forwardly inelined open drainage notches? und the brand-hoard F forniving with the side bare A and B and vross liars C and E a closed-bottoni soap-reeel)A taule above the Soap-rest E, the drainagr from whii-li flows downwardljr and for .vardl)r through the inclined open drainage notches and over the rubbing surface of the board; Subalantially as deeoribed 'l.. In awvushhoard, the combination, with the side bers, A, and B, and top rroeshar C, of the intermediate cross-bar 'E formed upon one side with the forwardly projecting soap-rest E having a plurality of downwardly and forwardly inclined open drain-- age notches E? having flat bottoms a? and approxiniatel)Y parallel opposingr sfide wells b2 terniinaling at their forward ends iu 'the beveled surfaces c, and the brandlioard 11V forming with the yaide bars A and B and cross-bars (l and l1) a cloued-boltom soap` recordar-le above the :inap reel ll, the drainM age from wliivli lloiw downwardly and forwardly through ihrA inelinml open drainage noir-hir# lli: nucl owl the ruliliiri rifare of llliA hoard: --nlanniiullr at; demiilied Vln :e \i\alilfourd` tho raiin'iliinzulion` e un the eide liar und, ll and top erosfarliar if. of the intermediate ri'osliair l provided in ita upper eide with lhe longitudinal groom ff and foi-ined upon one 4ide with th .i forwardly prolierting Soap-rout Ff having' a plnralilv ol downwardllr and forwardlyr inrlined drainage 1iirwrig'gee` and ille brand hoard F mirrounded hy and having ith` 'toni' (lifes filling in grooves in the ,aide liars il and l and the top urossdiar ll and intorinediae erom-har *L to foi-1n a cloeelllioltoni soap-receptaule above the soap-rent E', the. drainage from which flows` downwardly and l'orwarfll; through the inclina-cl drainage paweagfil and over the rnlnjiingg surfant, of the hoard; uliwlantially as dvsi'riliril ll.' ln a` uswhlioard. the uoiollinalloin with he Fide lliure A :mil ll and top wo of the iuterine:liuto. |.:io,-l,liar lil poriilnal in its upper side with :he longitudinal groove fr and formed upon one de with tho forwardl)T projecting soap-reet Ff having an upper horizontal soap-supporting ,anrface a" projeeting forwardly from the liaise il lhehraml-lioard and u rearwnrdlyinclined forward surface ter1ninatinr at its. lower edge in approximately the vertical plane of the upper edge of the front face of the rubbing surfat-e, said Soap-reet `being proA vided with a. plurality of downwardly and forwardly inclined open dainagge note leading; l'runl its upper warfare adjacent nu hase of the brandboard downwardly an( forwardly to the upper edge of the from of the rubbing surface, and the` lirandf-lY "i l? surrounded by and having its fe edge litting in grooves in the eide liars A and l and the top croie-har C and intermediate ross-bar E, to forni a rinsed-hollow recup lacie above the Soapieslr E', the draining from which flows downwardly and for vardly through the inclined open drainagi notches auf374 over the rubbing surface of th hoard; t-Lful ml'iallv described. 

